Guitarist Phil Weaver performing first public concert since fall that shattered his elbow

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Three months after a big fall over a small tree root almost ended his career, classical guitarist Phil Weaver calls his return to the stage Friday night with Classical-Blues Cabaret a personal triumph.

Weaver was hiking on April 22 when a half-inch root caught his boot. The fall broke his right elbow in six places and fractured his wrist and scapula.

“I’ve been told by friends that I need to come up with a more heroic story to go along with the awesome scars,” Weaver said.

It’s easier to joke about the experience now that Weaver is fully recovered. At the time, he worried that his days as a professional musician might be over.

“The main thing I was concerned about was my career,” Weaver said. “Luckily, I didn’t have any nerve damage, or we wouldn’t even be talking about me playing again. But everyone was really encouraging. At the urgent-care center, they told me I’d get a bunch of pins in my arm but that I’d be playing again in a few weeks.”

An X-ray shows guitarist Phil Weaver's right elbow after he fell hiking. Weaver broke his wrist, scapula and elbow in six places. (Courtesy photo)

Dr. David Griffin at The Orthopaedic Center performed surgery the next evening, and Weaver began the long road back that included heavy pain medication and physical therapy four days a week.

He started playing guitar again when the bandages came off, but had to fight off doubts at first. The pain in his shoulder was intense and didn’t go away quickly.

“Having pain while you’re playing your instrument, that’s not very encouraging,” Weaver said. “And then I was just dealing with the guilt of something so dumb causing it all.”

Weaver kept playing, kept going to therapy, and started to see incremental improvement. Now he’s missing just a few degrees of extension of his right arm and feels only “twinges” of pain. He can play even the most challenge pieces in his musical repertoire.

Griffin and The Orthopaedic Center physical therapists Nicole Yates and Jessica Moore have received courtesy tickets to Friday’s show at Burritt on the Mountain. Weaver credits them with for his recovery and hopes they’ll be present to watch his first public concert since the accident.

Playing with Weaver at the City Lights and Stars concert will be pianist Ingrid von Spakovsky (also his wife), blues guitarist Microwave Dave Gallaher, Ken Watters on trumpet and Emily Jones on guitar and mandolin. The show will include performances by the entire group as well as some different ensembles.

“It will feel really good to be back on stage, back where I’m supposed to be,” Weaver said. “It’s easy sometimes to take what you do for granted. I don’t do that anymore.”

Want to go?

City Lights and Stars with Classical-Blues Cabaret

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: the Gazebo at Burritt on the Mountain

How much: In advance, $12 for adults and $8 for students; member adults are $10 and member students $5. All tickets will be $15 at the gate.